Broadband rollout and St James's digital upgrade
Senator Ardagh criticised the paused national broadband rollout and urged a fresh or State-led approach, then congratulated St. James’s Hospital on going digital and called for all hospitals to do likewise.
I am very disappointed for the 500,000 homes and businesses across Ireland that will not be in receipt of high-speed broadband. It was indicated over the weekend that the Minister was pausing the roll-out of broadband. He said it was being done on the basis that there would be an audit of the process to date.
It is as clear as night follows day that the process is flawed. The Government needs to be pragmatic and either start the process again or involve a State body to roll out the broadband network. We need to do a great deal more for small businesses around the country, especially in the light of Brexit. The least a small business can have is access to reliable broadband but with Brexit on the horizon, as well as much uncertainty, not having broadband is a significant disadvantage to small businesses nationwide.
Second, I wish to raise the leniency of sentencing that occurred yesterday in the case of a man who assaulted his wife by hitting her twice and who received a suspended sentence. Obviously his plea of mitigation was not reported in the newspapers, however the facts that were presented were shocking. It puts a fear in the minds of victims that if they go through the courts and help the Garda in prosecuting such offences, the perpetrators may be treated as leniently. I think we need to have a debate in this House on minimum mandatory sentencing and punishment for sexual assault.
Comment on this
The Senator should know that she cannot make any comment on the judgment of a court.
Comment on this
I am sorry, but the Leader is out of order in saying that in this House. A Member cannot criticise any individual judgment, given the separation of powers. He is better educated than that.
Comment on this
No names were mentioned.
Third, I congratulate St. James's Hospital, the largest acute hospital in the country, which has gone digital. I believe going digital will enhance patient safety, decrease waiting times and ultimately create efficiencies within the hospital. All hospitals nationwide must strive to go digital in order that we have overall efficiencies in the health service.